Will Yue Yue reset China's moral compass?
- By Taryn Machingo
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China.org.cn, October 21, 2011
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Yue yue and her mother [qq.com] |
The story of the two-year-old girl who was struck by two different vehicles has inundated the media all over the world. The accident that was caught on CCTV, and then uploaded to popular video sites has initiated a fierce debate in China over whether the race to become rich, famous and successful has caused its citizens to lose their moral compass.
On Oct. 13, while walking alone on a small street in Foshan, Guangdong Province, two-year old toddler Wang Yue (known as "Yue Yue") was struck by the first vehicle that stopped initially then continued to drive over her with the back wheels without stopping to see what they had hit. A short while after a second vehicle drove over her a second time. The second vehicle also did not stop to check what it had struck.
Sadly that was not the end of this gruesome event. Yue Yue was left struggling to hold on to her life in the middle of the street—it took 18 people walking and biking past her for someone to stop, assess the situation and call for help.
After spending a week in a coma in a Guangzhou hospital, Yue Yue was pronounced brain dead and later died On Oct. 21.
Recently in China, there have been reports of "good Samaritans" who have stopped to assist those being sued or fined for the victim's injuries. The noted 'logic' is that since they were helping they must have been the ones to cause the accident.
There is no excuse to run away from an accident. It is understandable that those injured in such situations should be taken care of by the perpetrator of the accident, but to accuse someone who is trying to save your life falls outside the circle of rationality. The trend of people in our society lashing out at anyone for money is appalling.
Regardless of a reluctance to physically aid someone due to the recent rise in liability claims, there is no reasonable excuse not to call emergency services if you see an accident. With almost everyone carrying a cell phone nowadays, it is unbelievable that no one would call the police or an ambulance and report a tiny child bleeding in the street.
Upon hearing this story, many people have asked what is wrong with Chinese society. Some have blamed government corruption, arguing that if the top is morally misguided, how can society be pointed in the proper direction? The most commonly used excuse is the recent pull for economic development, which has made people focused solely on acquiring a higher financial status, even with disregard to moral or ethical standards.
There are many factors that could have caused society to turn into this new monster but one thing can be for sure is that this is not strictly a Chinese problem. I believe that this tragic incident can shed light on an issue that we are having as a species. Sadly, China has become the scapegoat for a global need for moral renewal .
Everyone that has heard about this event was appalled that so many people failed to help that small child in need. Hopefully the horror of this event will shock people into re-examining their own priorities and attitudes towards their fellow man.
The author is a freelance writer in Beijing.
Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn.
